Advancements in oxazolidinone synthesis utilizing carbon dioxide as a C1 source

Abstract Carbon dioxide, a natural molecule, has been utilized in the synthesis of chemicals for several decades. Its innocuous chemical properties make it a favorable substance to incorporate in such synthetic processes. Recently, research is being conducted to include carbon dioxide in the production of a specific class of cyclic urethane molecules known as oxazolidinones. Oxazolidinones are important in synthetic and medicinal applications, which necessitate a greener method to produce them. In this review, various synthetic methods including catalytic processes that incorporate carbon dioxide to yield oxazolidinones have been discussed and the results of the research are presented. Emphasis is placed primarily on reactions of carbon dioxide with a variety of aziridines, propargylamines and 2-amino alcohols for the synthesis of oxazolidinones.